C-M falls just short in season's swan song

GLEN MILLS—For many of the players on the field at Garnet Valley High School on Sunday, the field hockey season had been over for quite a while.

Those whose teams had post-season bids had a little less time off.But for all involved, the All-Star field hockey showdown between theCentral League and the Ches-Mont was a chance to play one finalhigh school field hockey game, maybe the final field hockey game atany level for some.

While the end result didn’t matter nearly as much as a chance to getto play on the same team as a typical rival, or getting to showcasethe skills for some of the college coaches on hand, the game was aboutas even as it could be, finishing regulation in a 2-2 tie. The Centralclaimed victory after outshooting the Ches-Mont, 5-1, on penalty strokes.

“I was so moved on from field hockey since the season ended,” saidConestoga’s Blake Hamblett. The Pioneer standout midfielder, headedto Dartmouth to play lacrosse, connected for what would wind up as thegame-clinching stroke. “It was nice to get back on the field to playone more field hockey game. It was a lot of fun making new friendsand playing together with people who used to be the enemy.”

Advertisement

For the first 27 minutes of play, both teams were able to move theball into the circle with decent regularity, and combined for 14penalty corners in the first half. But scoring on corners usuallycomes from practice, lots and lots of practice with the sameteammates, over and over. With neither team getting much time toprepare, corners didn’t look as polished as they did during theregular season.

Tellingly, the scoreless tie was finally broken when a pair of Oxfordteammates connected for a goal with just over two minutes left in thehalf. Avon Grove’s Megan Stanley put the ball in play on a corner,sending it to Oxford’s Paige Hostetter at the top of the circle.Hostetter sent a nice cross to Hornet teammate Kerry Mundy, whoslipped it in for the score.

“We did our best to always keep regular teammates on the field at thesame time,” said Avon Grove coach Sandy Leiti, who, along withRustin’s Jenna Fisher, coached the Ches-Mont squad. “You have to tryto keep some chemistry when you have so little time together as aunit.”

Mundy’s goal opened the floodgates. After going 27 minutes without ascore, the teams combined for three goals before the break. TheCentral League needed less than a minute to answer Mundy’s goal with agoal of its own. Caleigh Foust, a University of Virginia recruit,knotted the game at 1-1 with an unassisted goal at the 1:48 mark.Stanley put her team back on top with a goal with less than a minuteto go.

“We knew we didn’t have too much preparation for the game,” saidConestga Coach Megan Ryan. Ryan, who has ties to both leagues, havingplayed her high school hockey at West Chester East, was at the helm ofthe Central League squad. “It was pretty amazing to see relationshipsdevelop on the spot and the way they came together as a unit in such ashort amount of time.”

Unionville’s Erin Karcher gave the Ches-Mont a shot to add to its lead, taking off on a breakway and forcing a corner in the process.Octorara’s Amanda Billig put the ball in play, sending it to Karcherat the top of the circle. Karcher unleashed a rocket of a shot thatfound its way into the back of the cage, but the goal was disallowedas too high for the initial shot on a corner.

The Central League took advantage of the break, forcing three cornersover the next three minutes, finally scoring on a goal fromHaverford’s Morgan Druce. Lower Merion’s Allesandro Patrizio getscredit for the assist.

With no more scoring in regulation, a regular-season game would go toa seven-on-seven overtime period. But the All-Star game would simplybe settled on strokes, with each team getting five shots.

The Central League was a perfect 5-of-5 on strokes, with scores comingfrom Garnet Valley’s Eleanor Kirby, Strath Haven’s Jessica Borbee,Blake, Foust and Druce. Karcher was the sole Ches-Mont player toconnect on a stroke.

“I think going straight to strokes added an extra element ofexcitement to the game,” said Ryan. “This was my first time involvedwith this game. I hope I can come back again next year.”